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Abstract:

A scanner device including: a scanning path on which a scanning member
for scanning an image from a document is disposed; a supply path on which
a document is supplied to the scanning path; a discharge path on which a
document is discharged after scanning of the document on the scanning
path has been completed; and a re-supply path that extended to the supply
path from a intersection where the scanning path and the discharge path
cross so that a document fed along the discharge path in a direction
opposite to a document-feeding direction is re-supplied to the supply
path after scanning of one side of the document has been completed,
wherein one-side guide portions of the supply path, the discharge path,
and the re-supply path are integrally formed.

Claims:

1. A scanner device comprising: a scanning path on which a scanning
member for scanning an image from a document is disposed; a supply path
on which a document is supplied to the scanning path; a discharge path on
which a document is discharged after scanning of the document on the
scanning path has been completed; and a re-supply path that extended to
the supply path from an intersection where the scanning path and the
discharge path cross so that a document fed along the discharge path in a
direction opposite to a document-feeding direction is re-supplied to the
supply path after scanning of one side of the document has been
completed, wherein one-side guide portions of the supply path, the
discharge path, and the re-supply path are integrally formed.

2. The scanner device of claim 1, wherein the one-side guide portions of
the supply path, the discharge path, and the re-supply path are
integrally formed by using injection molding.

3. The scanner device of claim 2, further comprising: an upper frame; a
base frame; and a main frame interposed between the base frame and the
upper frame, and integrally formed with the one-side guide portions of
the supply path, the discharge path, and the re-supply path by using
plastic injection molding.

5. The scanner device of claim 4, wherein the upper frame comprises an
upper guide portion that faces the first re-supply guide portion and the
first discharge guide portion and forms the re-supply path and the
discharge path, and an upper supply guide portion that faces the lower
supply guide portion and forms the supply path.

6. The scanner device of claim 5, wherein an end part of the lower
re-supply guide portion that is directed towards the discharge path is
stepped from an end part of the lower discharge guide portion that is
directed towards the re-supply path so that a document fed along the
discharge path in a direction opposite to a document-feeding direction is
guided to the re-supply path.

7. The scanner device of claim 1, further comprising: a pressing member
for pressing a document against the scanning member, wherein the pressing
member is disposed facing a scanning window in a position above the
scanning member so that the document is secured in contact with the
scanning window, and forms an upper guide of the scanning path.

8. The scanner device of claim 1, further comprising: at least one
actuator that is rotated in contact with a fed document; and at least one
document sensor for detecting rotation of the actuator and generating an
electrical signal, wherein the at least one document sensor is disposed
in a region outside of a document-feeding region in a widthwise direction
of a document.

9. The scanner device of claim 8, further comprising a control unit for
controlling an operation of feeding a document, wherein the control unit
is disposed in the region outside of the document-feeding region.

10. The scanner device of claim 8, further comprising: a main frame
integrally formed with the one-side guide portions of the supply path,
the discharge path, and the re-supply path by using plastic injection
molding, wherein at least one of the at least one document sensor is
disposed in a sidewall of the main frame in the region outside of the
document-feeding region.

11. A multifunction apparatus comprising: a printing unit for printing an
image on a sheet of paper; a scanner device comprising: a scanning path
on which a scanning member for scanning an image from a document is
disposed; a supply path on which a document is supplied to the scanning
path; a discharge path on which a document is discharged after scanning
of the document on the scanning path has been completed; and a re-supply
path that extended to the supply path from an intersection where the
scanning path and the discharge path cross so that a document fed along
the discharge path in a direction opposite to a document-feeding
direction is re-supplied to the supply path after scanning of one side of
the document has been completed, wherein one-side guide portions of the
supply path, the discharge path, and the re-supply path are integrally
formed.

12. The multifunction apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one-side guide
portions of the supply path, the discharge path, and the re-supply path
are integrally formed by using injection molding.

13. The multifunction apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: an upper
frame; a base frame; and a main frame interposed between the base frame
and the upper frame, and integrally formed with the one-side guide
portions of the supply path, the discharge path, and the re-supply path
by using plastic injection molding.

15. The multifunction apparatus of claim 14, wherein the upper frame
comprises an upper guide portion that faces the first re-supply guide
portion and the first discharge guide portion and forms the re-supply
path and the discharge path, and an upper supply guide portion that faces
the lower supply guide portion and forms the supply path.

16. The multifunction apparatus of claim 15, wherein an end part of the
lower re-supply guide portion that is directed towards the discharge path
is stepped from an end part of the lower discharge guide portion that is
directed towards the re-supply path so that a document fed along the
discharge path in a direction opposite to a document-feeding direction is
guided to the re-supply path.

17. The multifunction apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a
pressing member for pressing a document against the scanning member,
wherein the pressing member is disposed facing a scanning window in a
position above the scanning member so that the document is secured in
contact with the scanning window, and forms an upper guide of the
scanning path.

18. The multifunction apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: at least
one actuator that is rotated in contact with a fed document; and at least
one document sensor for detecting rotation of the actuator and generating
an electrical signal, wherein the at least one document sensor is
disposed in a region outside of a document-feeding region in a widthwise
direction of a document.

19. The multifunction apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a control
unit for controlling an operation of feeding a document, wherein the
control unit is disposed in the region outside of the document-feeding
region.

20. The multifunction apparatus of claim 18, further comprising: a main
frame integrally formed with the one-side guide portions of the supply
path, the discharge path, and the re-supply path by using plastic
injection molding, wherein at least one of the at least one document
sensor is disposed in a sidewall of the main frame in the region outside
of the document-feeding region.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application
No. 10-2011-0069497, filed on Jul. 13, 2011, in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its
entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a scanner device that scans an
image from a document and a multifunction apparatus including the same.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Scanner devices irradiate light onto a document and receive light
reflected from the document, thereby reading an image formed on the
document. Scanner devices use scanning methods, such as a flatbed
scanning method in which a document is put in a fixed position and an
image is read when a scanning member, such as a contact type image sensor
(CIS), a charge coupled device (CCD), or the like, is moved, a
document-feeding scanning method in which a scanning member is disposed
in a fixed position and a document is fed, and a composite scanning
method thereof.

[0006] Scanner devices may be configured as a single device or a
multifunction apparatus that is combined with a printer including a
printing unit for printing an image on a sheet of paper, or combined with
a copy machine.

[0007] Scanner devices include a plurality of components for forming a
feed path on which a document is fed and for accommodating an actuator
detecting the document and a sensor that is operable by the actuator. As
a number of components for forming the feed path increases, the feed path
may become less uniform, a document-feeding performance may be lowered,
and assembling cost may be increased. In addition, as the length of
connection lines for electrically connecting sensors and a control unit
increases, manufacturing cost increases.

SUMMARY

[0008] Additional aspects and/or advantages will be set forth in part in
the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the
description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

[0009] The embodiments of the present disclosure provides a scanner device
that may reduce a document-feeding defect caused by an assembling error
by reducing the number of components for forming a document-feeding path,
and a multifunction apparatus including the scanner device.

[0010] The embodiments of the present disclosure also provides a scanner
device that may reduce the length of connection lines for electrically
connecting sensors and a control unit, and a multifunction apparatus
including the scanner device.

[0011] According to an embodiment, there is provided a scanner device
including: a scanning path on which a scanning member for scanning an
image from a document is disposed; a supply path on which a document is
supplied to the scanning path; a discharge path on which a document is
discharged after scanning of the document on the scanning path has been
completed; and a re-supply path that extended to the supply path from an
intersection where the scanning path and the discharge path cross so that
a document fed along the discharge path in a direction opposite to a
document-feeding direction is re-supplied to the supply path after
scanning of one side of the document has been completed, wherein one-side
guide portions of the supply path, the discharge path, and the re-supply
path are integrally formed.

[0012] The one-side guide portions of the supply path, the discharge path,
and the re-supply path may be integrally formed by using injection
molding.

[0013] The scanner device may further include an upper frame, a base
frame, and a main frame interposed between the base frame and the upper
frame. The main frame may be integrally formed with the one-side guide
portions of the supply path, the discharge path, and the re-supply path
by using plastic injection molding.

[0014] The one-side guide portions may include a lower supply guide
portion, a lower discharge guide portion, and a lower re-supply guide
portion forming lower guides of the supply path, the discharge path, and
the re-supply path, respectively.

[0015] The upper frame may include an upper guide portion that faces the
first re-supply guide portion and the first discharge guide portion and
forms the re-supply path and the discharge path, and an upper supply
guide portion that faces the lower supply guide portion and forms the
supply path.

[0016] An end part of the lower re-supply guide portion that is directed
towards the discharge path may be stepped from an end part of the lower
discharge guide portion that is directed towards the re-supply path so
that a document fed along the discharge path in a direction opposite to a
document-feeding direction is guided to the re-supply path.

[0017] The scanner device may further include a pressing member for
pressing a document against the scanning member. The pressing member may
be disposed facing a scanning window in a position above the scanning
member so that the document is secured in contact with the scanning
window, and forms an upper guide of the scanning path.

[0018] The scanner device may further include at least one actuator that
is rotated in contact with a fed document, and at least one document
sensor for detecting rotation of the actuator and generating an
electrical signal. The at least one document sensor may be disposed in a
region outside of a document-feeding region in a widthwise direction of a
document.

[0019] The scanner device may further include a control unit for
controlling an operation of feeding a document. The control unit may be
disposed in the region outside of the document-feeding region.

[0020] The scanner device may further include a main frame integrally
formed with the one-side guide portions of the supply path, the discharge
path, and the re-supply path by using plastic injection molding. At least
one of the at least one document sensor may be disposed in a sidewall of
the main frame in the region outside of the document-feeding region.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is
provided a multifunction apparatus including: the aforementioned scanner
device; and a printing unit for printing an image on a sheet of paper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The above and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary
embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a document-feeding path of a
scanner device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a document-feeding unit and a
document-detecting unit of the scanner device illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0025]FIG. 3 illustrates an operation of separating a plurality of
documents from one another by using an automatic document feeding (ADF)
roller and a separation member of the scanner device of FIG. 1;

[0026]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example of a main frame of the
scanner device of FIG. 1;

[0027]FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a structure for guiding a document
onto a re-supply path so as to perform both-side scanning;

[0028] FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the document-detecting unit
of FIG. 2;

[0029] FIG. 8 is a plane view illustrating a position where a document
sensor and a control unit are disposed;

[0030]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a structure of a multifunction
apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0031]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where an
automatic document feeding unit is rotated so as to perform flatbed
scanning by using the multifunction apparatus illustrated in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The present invention will now be described more fully with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of
the invention are shown.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a document-feeding path of a
scanner device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, the scanner device 100 may include an automatic
feeding unit 200 and a scanning unit 300.

[0034] The scanning unit 300 includes a scanning member 310 for reading an
image from a document. The scanning member 310 irradiates light onto the
document and receives light reflected from the document, thereby reading
the image formed on the document. The scanning member 310 may be a
contact type image sensor (CIS), a charge coupled device (CCD), or the
like.

[0035] The scanner device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 uses a composite
scanning method in which both a flatbed scanning method and a
document-feeding scanning method are used. The scanning unit 300 further
includes a platen glass 320 on which the document is disposed, so as to
read the image from the document by using the flatbed scanning method.
The scanning unit 300 further includes a scanning window 330 through
which the image is read from the document by using the document-feeding
scanning method. The scanning window 330 may be a transparent member, for
example. The height of a top surface of the scanning window 330 may be
the same as that of a top surface of the platen glass 320.

[0036] When the document-feeding scanning method is used, the scanning
member 310 is disposed under the scanning window 330. When the flatbed
scanning method is used, the scanning member 310 may be moved by a
movement unit (not shown) in an auxiliary scanning direction, i.e., in a
lengthwise direction of the document, under the platen glass 320. In
addition, when the flatbed scanning method is used, the automatic feeding
unit 200 may be rotated with respect to the scanning unit 300, as
illustrated in FIG. 10, so that the document may be put on the platen
glass 320.

[0037] The automatic feeding unit 200 feeds the document so that the
scanning member 310 may read the image formed on the document and
discharges the document after the image has been scanned. Referring to
FIG. 1, the automatic feeding unit 200 may include a scanning path 702 on
which the image is scanned by the scanning member 310, a discharge path
703 on which the document is discharged after the image has been scanned,
and a supply path 701 on which the document is supplied to the scanning
path 702. In order to perform both-side scanning, the automatic feeding
unit 200 may further include a re-supply path 704 for guiding the
document fed along the discharge path 703 in a direction opposite to a
document-feeding direction to the scanning path 702 after scanning of one
side of the document has been completed.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 1, when one-side scanning is performed, the
document is discharged in the order of the supply path 701, the scanning
path 702, and the discharge path 703. Referring to FIG. 2, when both-side
scanning is performed, before the document fed to the discharge path 703
is fully discharged after scanning of one side of the document has been
completed, the document is fed along the discharge path 703 in the
direction opposite to the document-feeding direction and passes through
the scanning path 702 via the re-supply path 704 and the supply path 701.
The document is discharged via the discharge path 703 after scanning of
both sides of the document has been completed.

[0039] The automatic feeding unit 200 may include a base frame 410, an
upper frame 430, and a main frame 420 interposed therebetween. The main
frame 420 includes a lower re-supply guide portion (first re-supply guide
portion) 724 that forms a lower guide of the re-supply path 704. The main
frame 420 further includes a lower discharge guide portion (first
discharge guide portion) 723 that forms a lower guide of the discharge
path 703. The main frame 420 further includes a lower supply guide
portion (first supply guide portion) 721 that forms a lower guide of the
supply path 701.

[0040] The upper frame 430 includes an upper guide portion 734 that faces
the lower re-supply guide portion 724 and the lower discharge guide
portion 723 to form the re-supply path 704 and the discharge path 703.
The upper frame 430 further includes an upper supply guide portion
(second supply guide portion) 731 that faces the lower supply guide
portion 721 to form the supply path 701.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 1, the upper frame 430 further includes an upper
cover 431 that forms the exterior of the scanner device 100, and a guide
frame 432 that is combined with a lower side of the upper cover 431. The
upper guide portion 734 may have a plurality of rib shapes, for example,
arranged on the guide frame 432 in a widthwise direction (depth direction
in FIG. 1) of the document. The upper supply guide portion 731 may have a
plurality of rib shapes arranged on the upper cover 431 in the widthwise
direction (depth direction in FIG. 1) of the document.

[0042] The scanner device 100 further includes a document-feeding unit
that feeds the document. Referring to FIG. 2, the document-feeding unit
includes a supply portion 610 that feeds the document supplied from a
loading stand 440 to the supply path 701, a main feeding portion 620 that
is disposed between the supply path 701 and the scanning path 702 and
feeds the document to the scanning path 702, an auxiliary feeding portion
630 that feeds the document passed through the scanning path 702 to the
discharge path 703, and a discharge portion 640 that is installed on the
discharge path 703 and discharges the document. The discharge portion 640
may feed the document in the direction opposite to the document-feeding
direction, thereby feeding the document to the re-supply path 704. The
document, after being passed through the re-supply path 704, is fed by
the supply portion 610 to the supply path 701.

[0043] The supply portion 610, the main feeding portion 620, the auxiliary
feeding portion 630, and the discharge portion 640 may each include a
driving roller and a driven roller engaged to each other and rotated with
respect to each other. The driving roller is a roller that is rotated due
to power supplied by a power source (not shown), and the driven roller is
a roller that is engaged with the driving roller and is rotated by the
driving roller.

[0044] The automatic feeding unit 200 according to the current embodiment
may perform automatic document feeding (ADF) in which one document is
taken out from a plurality of documents and is supplied to the supply
path 701. To perform this, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper frame 430
may include an ADF roller 650 and a separation member 660 that faces the
ADF roller 650. The separation member 660 may be elastically biased by an
elastic member 670 towards the ADF roller 650. The ADF roller 650 and the
separation member 660 may separate one document from the plurality of
documents by using differences in frictional forces between the
documents, the ADF roller 650, and between the documents and the
separation member 660, for example. When the plurality of documents are
put between the ADF roller 650 and the separation member 660, the
frictional force between the documents is smaller than the frictional
force between the ADF roller 650 and the documents and the frictional
force between the separation member 660 and the documents. Thus, only a
document that contacts the ADF roller 650 may be separated from the
documents by being slid off the plurality of documents and fed by the
supply portion 610 to the supply path 701.

[0045]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example of the main frame 420.
Referring to FIG. 4, the main frame 420 has an approximately H-shaped
member including both sidewalls 421 and 422 and first and second
connection portions 423 and 424 that connect the sidewalls 421 and 422 to
each other and that extend in a horizontal direction, i.e., in the
widthwise direction of the document. The main frame 420 may be
manufactured by using plastic injection molding, for example. The first
and second connection portions 423 and 424 are spaced apart from each
other in the document-feeding direction, i.e. a direction perpendicular
to the widthwise direction of the document.

[0046] For example, the lower re-supply guide portion (see 724 of FIG. 1)
may be configured by an upper surface of the first connection portion
423. According to the current embodiment, a plurality of ribs 425 are
arranged on the upper surface of the first connection portion 423 and
protrude from the first connection portion 423 and are spaced apart from
each other in the widthwise direction of the document. The lower
re-supply guide portion 724 is configured by the plurality of ribs 425.
Thus, a frictional force that may be generated between the first
connection portion 423 and the document may be reduced due to the lower
re-supply guide portion 724. For example, the lower discharge guide (see
723 of FIG. 1) may be configured by an upper surface of the second
connection portion 424. According to the current embodiment, a plurality
of ribs 426 are arranged on the upper surface of the second connection
portion 424 and protrude from the second connection portion 424 and are
spaced apart from each other in the widthwise direction of the document.
The lower discharge guide 723 is configured by the plurality of ribs 426.
The lower supply guide portion (see 721 of FIG. 1) may be configured by a
plurality of ribs 427 that protrude from a bottom surface of the first
connection portion 423 and are spaced apart from one another in the
widthwise direction of the document.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 1, the scanning path 702 may be configured by the
scanning window 330 disposed on the scanning unit 300, and a pressing
member 740 that is disposed facing the scanning window 330 in a position
above the scanning window 330. The pressing member 740 forms an upper
guide of the scanning path 702. The pressing member 740 may be installed
at the main frame 420. The pressing member 740 presses the document
against the scanning member 310 so that the document may be secured in
contact with the scanning window 330. The pressing member 740 is
installed at the main frame 420 in a vertical direction. The pressing
member 740 may press the document against the scanning member 310 due to
the weight of the pressing member 740. In addition, an elastic member 750
may be disposed above the pressing member 740 so that the pressing member
740 presses the document against the scanning member 310. A surface of
the pressing member 740 that faces the scanning member 310 may be white
so as to provide a criterion for white balance of the scanning member
310. In addition, a white sheet (not shown) for providing the criterion
for white balance may be attached to the surface of the pressing member
740 that faces the elastic member 750.

[0048] A discharge guide portion 411 is disposed on the base frame 410 so
as to guide the document to the discharge path 703 after the document has
passed through the scanning path 702.

[0049] As described above, in the scanner device 100 illustrated in FIG.
1, one-side guide portions 721, 723, and 724 of the supply path 701, the
discharge path 703, and the re-supply path 704 are integrated with the
main frame 420, and the other-side guide portions 731 and 734 of the
supply path 701, the discharge path 703, and the re-supply path 704 are
formed on the upper frame 430. According to this configuration, degrees
of precision of positions of the supply path 701, the discharge path 703,
and the re-supply path 704 and gaps of both guide portions of each of the
supply path 701, the discharge path 703, and the re-supply path 704
depend on manufacturing errors of the upper frame 430 and the main frame
720 and an assembling error therebetween. Thus, the number of factors for
determining the degrees of precision of the supply path 701, the
discharge path 703, and the re-supply path 704 may be minimized. Thus, a
document-feeding defect that is caused by the lowered degrees of
precision of the supply path 701, the discharge path 703, and the
re-supply path 704 may be reduced. In addition, the one-side guide
portions 721, 723, and 724 of the supply path 701, the discharge path
703, and the re-supply path 704 are integrated with the main frame 420
and thus the number of components of the scanner device 100 may be
reduced and material cost may be reduced.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 5, an end part 725 of the lower re-supply guide
portion 724 that is directed towards the discharge path 703 is stepped
downward from an end part 726 of the lower discharge guide portion 723
that is directed towards the re-supply path 704. The document has
predetermined rigidity. A rear end of the document remains straight due
to the rigidity of the document as the document is being discharged along
the discharge path 703 by the discharge portion 640. Thereafter, when the
discharge portion 640 feeds the document in the direction opposite to the
document-feeding direction, the document is not directed towards the
scanning path 702 but is directed towards the re-supply path 704 due to a
stepped amount S. According to this configuration, the document may be
guided to the re-supply path 704 after being fed by the discharge portion
640 in the direction opposite to the document-feeding direction along the
discharge path 703. Thus, an additional guide member for guiding the
document discharged from the scanning path 702 to the discharge path 703
and guiding the document fed in the direction opposite to the
document-feeding direction along the discharge path 703 to the re-supply
path 704 is not required and thus material cost may be reduced and a
document-feeding defect caused by an operational defect of the guide
member may be prevented.

[0051] The scanner device 100 may further include a document-detecting
unit that detects the existence and position of the document and whether
the document has been discharged. For example, referring to FIG. 2, the
scanner device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may include a first detector 801
that detects whether the document is loaded on the loading stand 440, a
second detector 802 that detects whether the document is fed to the
scanning path 702, and a third detector 803 that detects whether the
document has been discharged via the discharge path 703.

[0052]FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the first detector 801. Referring
to FIG. 6, the first detector 801 includes an actuator 810 that is
mechanically operated by the document, and a document sensor 820 that
detects whether the actuator 810 is operating and generates an electrical
signal. The actuator 810 may be rotatably installed at the upper cover
431, for example. The actuator 810 may include a rotation shaft 811, an
interference portion 812, and an operational portion 813. The rotation
shaft 811 extends in the horizontal direction, i.e., the widthwise
direction of the document, and is rotatably supported by the upper cover
431. The interference portion 812 extends in a downward direction from
the rotation shaft 811 so as to interfere with the document loaded on the
loading stand 440. The operational portion 813 extends from the rotation
shaft 811 and allows the document sensor 820 to operate. For example, the
document sensor 820 illustrated in FIG. 6 is a photointerruptor sensor
including an emitter 821 and a photodetector 822. When an optical path
between the emitter 821 and the photodetector 822 is interrupted by the
operational portion 813, light is not detected by the photodetector 822,
and when the operational portion 813 escapes from the optical path, light
is detected by the photodetector 822. Thus, the document sensor 820
generates an off signal or an on signal according to the position of the
operational portion 813. The on signal and the off signal may be signals
having different voltage levels, for example. Alternatively, the document
sensor 820 may have any of other shapes as long as the document sensor
820 operates due to the operational portion 813 and generates electrical
signals having different voltage levels. For example, the document sensor
820 may be a micro-switch sensor that is turned on/off due by the
operational portion 813.

[0053] When the document is not loaded on the loading stand 440, the
operational portion 813 interrupts the optical path. Thus, the document
sensor 820 generates an off signal, for example. As illustrated in FIG.
7, when the document is loaded on the loading stand 440, the interference
portion 812 is pushed by a front end of the document, and the actuator
810 is rotated around the rotation shaft 811 in a direction A. Then, the
operational portion 813 escapes from the optical path of the document
sensor 820. Thus, light is detected by the photodetector 822, and the
document sensor 820 generates an on signal, for example. Thus, the
document sensor 820 may detect whether the document is loaded on the
loading stand 440.

[0054] The structure of the second detector 802 may be the same as that of
FIGS. 6 and 7. The only difference therebetween is that the rotation
shaft 811 is rotatably supported on a lower portion of the main frame 420
and the interference portion 812 is disposed across the scanning path 702
so as to interfere with the document fed to the scanning path 702. The
front end of the document fed to the scanning path 702 may be detected by
the second detector 802, and a scanning starting time may be determined
by the scanning member 310.

[0055] The structure of the third detector 803 may also be the same as the
structure of FIGS. 6 and 7. The only difference therebetween is that the
rotation shaft 811 is rotatably supported on the guide frame 432 and the
interference portion 812 is disposed across the discharge path 703 so as
to interfere with the document fed to the discharge path 703. The rear
end of the document fed to the scanning path 702 may be detected by the
third detector 803, and the third detector 803 may determine whether the
document has been discharged. In addition, after the rear end of the
document is detected during both-side scanning, the document may be fed
in the direction opposite to the document-feeding direction by using the
discharge portion 640 and thereby may be fed to the re-supply path 704.

[0056] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the rotation shaft 811 of the
actuator 810 extends in the widthwise direction of the document from the
interference portion 812, and the operational portion 813 is disposed on
an end part of the rotation shaft 811 opposite to the interference
portion 812. FIG. 8 is a schematic plane view of the scanner device 100
illustrating a document-feeding region W and a position where the
document sensor 820 is installed. The interference portion 812 needs to
interfere with the document and thus is disposed in the document-feeding
region W. The rotation shaft 811 extends in the widthwise direction of
the document from the interference portion 812 up to a region W2 outside
of the document-feeding region W, and the operational portion 813 is
disposed on an end part of the rotation shaft 811. The document sensor
820 may be installed at the sidewall 422 of the main frame 420. According
to this configuration, since a structure for installing the document
sensor 820 is disposed outside the document-feeding region W, the
structure of the main frame 420 and the upper frame 430 may be
simplified. In other words, a structure that disturbs the
document-feeding path may not be formed in portions of the main frame 420
and the upper frame 430 that correspond to the document-feeding region W
and thus a document-feeding defect may be reduced.

[0057] FIG. 8 illustrates a control unit 900 that controls a
document-feeding operation. The control unit 900 may be installed at the
outer region W2. For example, the control unit 900 may be installed at
the base frame 410. The document sensor 820 is electrically connected to
the control unit 910 via connection lines 830. According to the scanner
device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, the structure for installing the
document sensor 820 is disposed in the outer region W2 outside the paper
feeding region W. Thus, since the connection lines 830 do not pass
through the document-feeding region W, a structure for guiding the
connection lines 830 does not need to be formed in the portions of the
main frame 420 and the upper frame 430 that correspond to the
document-feeding region W. Thus, the shapes of the main frame 420 and the
upper frame 430 may be simplified, and a structure that disturbs the
document-feeding path is not formed in the document-feeding region W and
thus the document-feeding defect may be reduced. In addition, since the
document sensor 820 is disposed in the outer region W2, a distance
between the document sensor 820 and the control unit 900 is shorter than
that in a case where the document sensor 820 is disposed in the
document-feeding region W. Thus, the length of the connection lines 830
may be reduced. Thus, material cost may be reduced, and a process of
arranging the connection lines 830 is simplified, and process cost may be
reduced. In addition, since the connection lines 830 having a short
length are used, a problem, such as electromagnetic interference or the
like, may be reduced.

[0058] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a structure of a multifunction apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 9 and 10
illustrate the scanner device 100 and a printing unit 70. The printing
unit 70 according to the current embodiment is an electrophotography
printing unit that prints an image on a sheet of paper by using
electrophotography. The scanner device 100 is disposed above the printing
unit 70. Hereinafter, an example of the printing unit 70 will be
described.

[0059] A photosensitive drum 1, a charging roller 2, an exposure unit 10,
a developing unit 20, and a transfer unit 30 are illustrated. The
photosensitive drum 1 is an example of a photosensitive body on which an
electrostatic latent image is formed. The photosensitive drum 1 is
configured by forming a photosensitive layer having photoconductivity on
a perimeter of a cylindrical metallic pipe. The charging roller 2 is an
example of a charging unit that charges the surface of the photosensitive
drum 1 to a uniform potential. A charging bias voltage is applied to the
charging roller 2. A corona charging unit (not shown), instead of the
charging roller 2, may also be used.

[0060] The exposure unit 10 scans light L that is modulated according to
image information on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 charged to
the uniform potential, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image. A
laser scanning unit (LSU) that scans light irradiated from a laser diode
on the photosensitive drum 1, for example, by deflecting the light in a
main scanning direction by using a polygonal mirror, may be used as the
exposure unit 10.

[0061] The developing unit 20 develops the electrostatic latent image
formed on the photosensitive drum 1 by supplying a toner to the
electrostatic latent image. The toner is accommodated in the developing
unit 20. The developing unit 20 includes a developing roller 3 that is
used to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of
the photosensitive drum 1 into a visual toner image by supplying the
toner to the electrostatic latent image. In the current embodiment, a
non-contact development method is used. The surface of the developing
roller 3 is spaced apart from the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by
a distance of about several hundreds of microns. The distance is referred
to as a development gap. When a development bias voltage is applied to
the developing roller 3, the toner is moved to the electrostatic latent
image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 via the
development gap. When a contact development method is used, the
developing roller 3 contacts the photosensitive drum 1. The developing
unit 20 may further include a supply roller 4 that attaches the toner to
the developing roller 3. A supply bias voltage may be applied to the
supply roller 4 so as to attach the toner to the developing roller 3.
Reference numeral 5 represents a regulation member that regulates the
amount of the toner attached to the surface of the developing roller 3.
The regulation member 5 may be a regulation blade of which a front end is
attached to the developing roller 3 under a predetermined pressure, for
example. Reference numeral 6 represents a cleaning member that removes
the remaining toner and a foreign substance from the surface of the
photosensitive drum 1 before charging. The cleaning member 6 may be a
cleaning blade of which a front end contacts the surface of the
photosensitive drum 1. An agitator 7 conveys the toner to the developing
roller 3. The agitator 7 may agitate the toner and may charge the toner
to a predetermined potential.

[0062] The transfer roller 30 is an example of a transfer unit that is
disposed to face the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 and forms a
transfer nip. A transfer bias voltage that is used to transfer the toner
image developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 onto a
recording medium P is applied to the transfer roller 30. A coroner
transfer unit, instead of the transfer roller 30, may also be used.

[0063] The recording medium P on which an image is to be printed is picked
up by a pickup roller 42 from a paper-feeding cassette 41. The picked-up
recording medium P is supplied by the transfer roller 43 to a region in
which the transfer roller 30 and the photosensitive drum 1 face each
other. Due to the transfer bias voltage applied to the transfer roller
130, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred onto the
surface of the recording medium P and is maintained on the surface of the
recording medium P due to an electrostatic attractive force.

[0064] A fusing unit 50 fuses the toner image on the recording medium P by
heating and pressing the toner image, thereby forming a permanent printed
image on the recording medium P. The fusing unit 50 may form a fusing nip
when a heating roller 51 including a heating unit 53 and a pressing
roller 52 are engaged with each other, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The
recording medium P is discharged by a discharge roller 44 to a discharge
tray 205 after the recording medium P has passed through the fusing unit
50.

[0065] According to the multifunction apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 9 and
10, printing, copying, and scanning operations may be performed. The
printing operation is an operation in which an image is printed on a
sheet of paper based on image information from an external host (not
shown). The copying operation is an operation in which the image
information is read from a document by using the scanner device 100 and
is transmitted to the printing unit 70 in order to print the image on the
sheet of paper. The scanning operation is an operation in which the image
information is read from the document and the read image information is
transmitted to the host (not shown), for example. When a communication
unit (not shown) is disposed, a facsimile transmission function of
transmitting the read image information by using a communication line,
such as a telephone line or the like, and a facsimile receiving function
of printing the image information received via the telephone line or the
like by using the printing unit 70 may be performed.

[0066] In the above embodiment, a single-color electrophotography printing
unit 70 including one developing unit 20 has been described. However, the
present invention is not limited thereto. In case of a multi-color
electrophotography printing unit, four developing units 20 in which cyan
(C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) color toners are
accommodated, may be used. In addition, the printing unit 70 may use
other image forming methods, such as an inkjet method, a thermal transfer
method, and the like.

[0067] While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in
form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.